Daddy cop or Not a Cop?

By Mariia Inosensia Laymontia

The series I’m talking about today is Lionsgate television alongside 20th televisions hit tv show the rookie starring Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, a forty year old rookie, and the start to his policing career after his life takes an unexpected turn. Going through tough battles on what he’s to do with his career being older than his training officers and other fellow rookies, almost doubling them in age. The show also makes light of other characters such as Nolans fellow rookies, officer, jackson west a second generation police officer, who is trying to live up to his fathers name played by Titus Makin Jr. as well as officer Lucy Chen, another fellow rookie played by Melissa O’Neil. They all go through the harsh process of becoming a cop having to deal with petty criminals, genius masterminds, murderers and serial killers, even their very own chain of command as well as corruption in the LAPD. 

During the time of the Rookie we know John Nolan is a rookie cop in his Forties who went from being divorced with a kid who’s now in college and owning his own construction business that was going pretty well. This all changes when an incident in his old home town of Foxburg Pennsylvania that leads to him being involved with some criminals and being saved by the police in his hometown. This one event where he felt like he was going to die ended up not only changing his views on the world but changing his career path entirely. He then switched careers, joined the Lapd and became what is known in his division as the oldest rookie. There were challenges of course his watch commander sergeant grey hated what he stood for thinking he would get someone killed and constantly belittled him and made him an example of what not to be like only pushed Nolans resolve to stay in the FTO program in the LAPD. 

He goes through all this with his fellow rookies lucy chen who is not only his fellow rookie but as well as his lover which is strictly not allowed in the LAPD which lead to both Nolan and Chen hiding the truth from their fellow officers and friends knowing that one mess up can have them both fired and possibly even arrested. This becomes a struggle whether to stay together or focus on trying to become a cop. Then their officer Jackson West who’s a second generation who is just trying to become a cop and follow in his fathers foot footsteps struggles with getting accustomed to being a rookie. He is used to being the best at everything, he broke his fathers records in the police academy and was at the top of his class in everything and now he is at the bottom trying to make his way and show that he belongs not because his father is a legacy but because of his own triumphs. 

There are plenty of other side characters who become very important but the show focused its first season around officer Nolan and the rookies since they are the main cast, yet you can’t stop being invested in the side characters storyline. Give officer tim bradford for example he is a ex army soldier whose partner used to be his wife, now ex wife who became addicted to narcotics on the job and she spilled out of control and this ends up being a heavy burden for him as he is always the rule follower with the higher moral code thinking everyone should aspire to be a certain level of professional in the LAPD. This is what keeps everyone coming back for more the way they use the side characters not as additions to the main cast story but little side stories that lead its viewers wanting more.

This as well as the stunts in the rookie make it unlike any other tv cop show where we only see everything happening in the third person. David Rowan was the main stunts coordinator who not only helped on the runaway car scene but also planned out the explosion and also the point of view. This is the main thing that sets the rookie apart from other cop shows; they actually used bodycam footage from each character and incorporated it into the show, giving it a more realistic feel. Not only that but the graphics and details on each crime accident or even the everyday encounter in the show. The show body cam as well as dashcam footage to give it a life-like feel to the scenes. David Rowan was an essential part in this show’s production; without him it would have felt like any other cop show but with his input he does an amazing job of making the rookie thrilling and exciting. 

Each episode is different from the last yet interconnected; the rookie has a massive amount of writers and each one gives a different view to an episode. They can go from focusing on Nolan and his fellow rookies to completely different characters that were just meeting or even comedic relief. Each character gets a storyline as well as a part in the series whether it be the nameless police officers or the detectives they have a part in the series. 

The rookie is a completely different cop show that does not only feel like a cop show, it has laughter and seriousness in every ep[isode along with a team that supports and changes the view and outcome making it a show that never gets old and keeps coming back. 

Source page

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt7587890/fullcredits/stunts

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0746454